Vol. 11, Special Issue 9 (2022)

Author(s):
Samir Ranjan Dash, Prasanna Jit Mishra, Susanta Kumar Swain, Arabinda Dhal and Preetilagna Dhal

Abstract:
Although a lot of this perception may be based on a lack of evidence, indigenous vegetables (IVs) are thought to be under-utilized crops. A much greater diversity of vegetables exists in traditional food systems, but many of these crops are not fully integrated in current markets and diets. While some of the vegetables are specific in their distribution, a large number are distributed across countries and regions. A recent study by Diversity International scientists in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization of United Nations revealed that a total 1,097 vegetable species, with a great variety of uses and growth forms, are cultivated worldwide. Still, we only seem to be familiar with less than 7% of these traditional species. These indigenous vegetables have been collected, conserved and used by farmers, yet the scientific community was not aware of or paid little attention to them. This paper provides an overview on the scope and value of indigenous vegetables grown in Odisha. Based on household data, farmer comments, PRA output and field survey results from the Khairiput block of the Malkangiri district, this article emphasized the critical reason for conservation and popularization of the indigenous vegetable Gobindpali brinjal as it helps the tribal farmers to support their livelihood and earns them higher income. The study demonstrates that Indigenous brinjal cultivar ‘Gobindpali brinjal’ not only plays a significant role in ensuring food security for poor households, but also constitute an increasingly appealing food group for upper income groups by linking consumption data with food market and consumer preference data. Based on household data and farmers feedback and output of PRA and field survey work from the Khairiput block of Malkangiri distinct, this paper highlights the role that Indigenous vegetable, Gobindpali brinjal which plays an important role for farmers income and support their livelihood. In conclusion, this study concluded that indigenous vegetables are not underutilized, but undervalued. By preserving biodiversity and indigenous knowledge on production and consumption of this Indigenous vegetable, and by providing improved package and practices scientists can contribute to the well-being of thousands of poor tribal farmers by enabling them to participate in growing markets for this crop. Also it was concluded that there is a greater scope of crop improvement through selection of this brinjal cultivar from this particular geographical growing tract and it should be taken for the Geographical Indications (GI) of goods under (registration and protection) act, 1999.